Ole Miss is slated to receive letters of intent from a few in-state defensive linemen on Wednesday, such as Wayne County's Quentin Bivens and Northwest Mississippi Community College's Hal Northern. Defensive tackle Ka'Darian Hill, a three-star Alabama native, will sign Wednesday too.

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Mississippi's Quentin Bivens (92) applies pressure to Alabama quarterback James Foster (4) in the annual MS-AL All-Star Football Game Saturday at the University of Southern Mississippi.(Photo: Keith Warren/Clarion Ledger)

The Rebels loaded up on linebackers in the last recruiting class and are signing more during this cycle. Alabama linebackers Jacquez Jones and Jonathan Hess will sign during the early signing period.

JUCO linebackers Vernon Dasher (Coffeyville Community College, Kansas.) and Davion Taylor (Coahoma Community College), who is committed to Colorado, have also visited recently.

In the secondary, Ole Miss currently has commitments from Alabama corner JaKorey Hawkins, Florida prospect Keidron Smith and Madison Central safety Cameron White. White told the Clarion Ledger he initially planned to sign in February but has since changed his mind and will sign Wednesday.

Ole Miss finished 31st last year and 12th in the SEC. But the circumstances were tougher this year. The NCAA cloud grew darker with the arrival of a second Notice of Allegations, which led to a postseason ban and more uncertainty.

Then there was Hugh Freeze's resignation, which led to some decommitments, and Luke had to recruit with an interim tag until late last month.

All of that meant this class was never going to be highly-rated, which is no knock on the coaching staff. It's just the reality of the situation.

But there's still plenty of time for Ole Miss to improve its standing between now and February.